Publications

Information for 6340IIED

Sustaining the Multiple Functions of Agricultural Biodiversity

Human communities worldwide have played a central role in shaping nature’s diversity and its associated functions. Both natural processes and human management have generated and sustained a vast array of genetic, species and ecological diversity. Within agricultural systems this agricultural biodiversity fulfils a number of important roles, such as providing food and livelihood security, ensuring productive and environment sustainability and supporting rural development.
However, throughout the world the diversity of agroecosystems is being rapidly eroded. This erosion is due to a range of factors, including the neglect of indigenous knowledge, institutions and management systems; the blueprint approach to development whereby monoculture systems and uniform technologies are promoted; the quest of the transnational corporations that market agricultural inputs and process food and fibres for commercial profits and control over production; inequitable access to, and control over, land, water, trees and genetic resources on the part of local people; market pressures and the undervaluation of agricultural biodiversity; and demographic factors.